Skip to content
✨ New: PhotoWeather is now available on iOS and Android
Rule Golden Hour

Kyoto - Golden Hour - Japan

Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover0%
Mid Cloud Cover0%
High Cloud Cover0%
Sun Elevation42.1° (Daylight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Asia/Tokyo
golden-hour weather icon
Next opportunity
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Kyoto
Today · 17:13–18:02 · 1h window
Medium confidence
65%
🌇Golden Hour Potential100%
Low Cloud Cover: 0%
Mid Cloud Cover: 0%
High Cloud Cover: 5%
Sun Elevation: 8.5° (Daylight)

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks the atmospheric conditions that create Japan's most iconic photography—from Mount Fuji's morning light to Kyoto's misty bamboo groves. We combine fog probability, visibility, and weather data to predict optimal conditions.

Japan offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, where ancient temples, bamboo forests, and the perfect symmetry of Mount Fuji create compositions steeped in meaning. The country's changing seasons each bring distinct photography opportunities.

What makes Japan special for photography:

  • Mount Fuji - Japan's iconic peak is best photographed at dawn with clear skies and lake reflections
  • Temple landscapes - Kyoto's gardens and pagodas offer contemplative compositions
  • Seasonal drama - Cherry blossoms (March-April) and autumn colors (November) transform the landscape
  • Atmospheric depth - Fog and mist add mystery to bamboo groves and mountain scenes

Mount Fuji clarity is best in autumn and winter when air is clearest. Spring brings cherry blossoms but also more clouds. Lake Kawaguchiko offers classic reflections, while Chureito Pagoda provides the iconic framed view. Arrive well before dawn for the best light—popular spots fill quickly.

Create your own Golden Hour alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
3matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Asia/Tokyo
Golden Hour
Any
Golden Hour Potential
≥ 80.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 5.0%
Visibility
≥ 1000.0m
Sun, Feb 22
10:0018%1.1%24135m
11:0017%2.3%24134m
12:0018%3.4%24135m
13:0016%2.3%24134m
14:0016%1.1%24135m
15:0011%0%24134m
16:0011%16%24134m
17:0066%32%24134m
18:0067%48%24135m
19:0012%64%24135m
20:0011%80%24135m
21:0012%96%24134m
22:0013%76%18702m
23:0015%53%20887m
Mon, Feb 23
24:0011%29%15063m
01:0017%32%22359m
02:0015%36%21125m
03:0012%39%14071m
04:0011%67%24135m
05:0011%33%24135m
06:00100%0%24134m
07:00100%0%24134m
08:0017%0%24135m
09:0017%0%24134m
10:0017%0%24134m
11:0017%0%24135m
12:0017%0%24134m
13:0017%0%24134m
14:0016%0%24134m
15:0016%0%24135m
16:0019%0%24134m
17:00100%0%24135m
18:00100%0%24135m
19:0017%0%24135m
20:0017%0%24135m
21:0011%0%24135m
22:0017%0%24134m
23:0017%0%24135m
Tue, Feb 24
24:0017%0%24135m
01:0017%0%24135m
02:0017%0%24135m
03:0018%0%24134m
04:0018%0%24135m
05:0012%0%24134m
06:0072%0%24134m
07:0072%0%24135m
08:0012%0%24135m
09:0012%0%24134m
10:009.9%0%24135m
11:009.4%0%24134m
12:009.3%0%24134m
13:009.2%0%24135m
14:009.3%0%24135m
15:009.4%0%24135m
16:009.6%13%24135m
17:0059%26%24135m
18:0058%39%24135m
19:009.6%37%24134m
20:009.5%36%24135m
21:009.8%34%24135m
22:009.1%50%24135m
23:009.2%67%24135m
Wed, Feb 25
24:008.8%83%19547m
01:008.7%87%20214m
02:008.2%90%22664m
03:008%94%15748m
04:007%91%8451m
05:007.6%87%10081m
06:0046%84%11185m
07:0043%89%12408m
08:007.7%94%16715m
09:008.1%99%17611m
10:007.6%96%14523m
11:008%94%11569m
12:006.8%91%7958m
13:008.3%92%16651m
14:008.7%92%23932m
15:009.2%92%24135m
16:0012%68%24135m
17:0093%44%24135m
18:0095%20%24135m
19:0016%24%24135m
20:0012%27%24135m
21:009.8%30%24135m
22:009.8%32%24135m
23:0011%35%24135m
Thu, Feb 26
24:0014%37%24135m
01:0017%36%24135m
02:0017%35%24135m
03:0017%33%24135m
04:0017%27%22315m
05:0013%21%20495m
06:0066%15%18675m
07:0068%16%20495m
08:0011%18%22315m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Golden Hour Potential mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
Asia/Tokyo
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Relative Humidity
%
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Speed
m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:33 Sunset 17:46
11:00
- 0% 0% 0% 46% 0% 1.4m/s
12:00
- 0% 0% 0% 41% 0% 1.2m/s
13:00
- 0% 0% 4% 36% 4% 1.2m/s
14:00
- 0% 0% 0% 33% 0% 1.7m/s
15:00
- 0% 0% 0% 31% 0% 1.5m/s
16:00
- 10% 0% 0% 32% 10% 0.85m/s
17:00
- 5% 0% 0% 38% 5% 0.98m/s
18:00
- 5% 0% 1% 44% 5% 1.6m/s
19:00
- 0% 0% 0% 50% 0% 1.8m/s
20:00
- 0% 0% 4% 54% 4% 1.6m/s
21:00
- 98% 0% 45% 55% 98% 1.4m/s
22:00
- 0% 0% 5% 58% 5% 1.6m/s
23:00
- 2% 0% 0% 61% 2% 1.2m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:33 Sunset 17:46
24:00
- 0% 0% 0% 62% 0% 1.1m/s
01:00
- 1% 0% 0% 62% 1% 1.6m/s
02:00
- 47% 0% 4% 62% 47% 1.9m/s
03:00
- 8% 0% 5% 62% 8% 1.6m/s
04:00
- 19% 0% 0% 63% 19% 1.5m/s
05:00
- 99% 0% 0% 63% 99% 1.2m/s
06:00
- 96% 0% 0% 64% 96% 1.3m/s
07:00
- 100% 0% 0% 65% 100% 1.3m/s
08:00
- 100% 0% 0% 61% 100% 1.3m/s
09:00
- 100% 0% 5% 54% 100% 1m/s
10:00
- 100% 0% 100% 45% 100% 1.3m/s
11:00
- 100% 0% 100% 39% 100% 1.4m/s
12:00
- 100% 0% 100% 36% 100% 1.7m/s
13:00
- 100% 0% 100% 32% 100% 1.6m/s
14:00
- 100% 0% 100% 35% 100% 2m/s
15:00
- 100% 0% 100% 40% 100% 2.4m/s
16:00
- 100% 38% 82% 46% 100% 2.6m/s
17:00
- 100% 80% 99% 53% 100% 2.5m/s
18:00
- 100% 100% 26% 58% 100% 2.3m/s
19:00
- 100% 89% 100% 62% 100% 2.1m/s
20:00
- 100% 95% 100% 65% 100% 1.7m/s
21:00
- 100% 52% 100% 70% 100% 1.2m/s
22:00
- 100% 29% 100% 75% 100% 1.5m/s
23:00
- 100% 100% 100% 80% 100% 1.4m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:32 Sunset 17:47
24:00
- 100% 87% 100% 84% 100% 0.63m/s
01:00
- 100% 93% 100% 88% 100% 0.99m/s
02:00
- 100% 100% 100% 90% 100% 1.1m/s
03:00
- 100% 100% 100% 93% 100% 1.1m/s
04:00
- 92% 100% 100% 95% 100% 0.88m/s
05:00
- 100% 100% 100% 97% 100% 0.71m/s
06:00
- 100% 100% 100% 97% 100% 0.8m/s
07:00
- 100% 100% 99% 96% 100% 1.9m/s
08:00
- 100% 100% 100% 89% 100% 3.2m/s
09:00
- 100% 100% 100% 82% 100% 3.2m/s
10:00
- 100% 100% 100% 83% 100% 2.9m/s
11:00
- 100% 100% 100% 84% 100% 2.6m/s
12:00
- 100% 100% 100% 86% 100% 2.1m/s
13:00
- 100% 100% 100% 84% 100% 2.4m/s
14:00
- 100% 95% 100% 81% 100% 1.5m/s
15:00
- 100% 31% 100% 80% 100% 1.1m/s
16:00
- 67% 23% 67% 85% 69% 1.3m/s
17:00
- 33% 15% 33% 90% 38% 1.5m/s
18:00
- 0% 7% 0% 95% 7% 1.6m/s
19:00
- 0% 38% 0% 94% 38% 1.6m/s
20:00
- 0% 69% 0% 93% 69% 1.6m/s
21:00
- 0% 100% 0% 93% 100% 1.6m/s
22:00
- 0% 85% 0% 93% 85% 1.5m/s
23:00
- 0% 70% 0% 94% 70% 1.5m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 06:31 Sunset 17:48
24:00
- 0% 56% 0% 94% 56% 1.4m/s
01:00
- 0% 41% 0% 91% 41% 1.6m/s
02:00
- 0% 26% 0% 87% 26% 1.7m/s
03:00
- 0% 11% 0% 84% 11% 1.8m/s
04:00
- 0% 38% 0% 81% 38% 1.9m/s
05:00
- 0% 66% 0% 77% 66% 2m/s
06:00
- 0% 94% 0% 74% 94% 2.1m/s
07:00
- 0% 93% 0% 72% 93% 2m/s
08:00
- 0% 92% 0% 70% 92% 1.8m/s
09:00
- 0% 91% 0% 68% 91% 1.7m/s
10:00
- 0% 66% 0% 72% 66% 1.7m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account